The world's largest video game collection has been sold at auction for $750,000 (£443,000).

The collection contains more than 11,000 games and was certified by the Guinness Book of World Records.

It had a starting price of $1, but 11 days later the price hit $750,250.

Owner Michael Thomasson, from Hamburg, New York, said he did not want to part with the games but needed money for his family.

Image Caption:The collection contains thousands of unopened games

"I simply have an immediate family and extended family that have needs that need to be addressed.

"While I do not wish to part with these games, I have responsibilities that I have made to others and this action is how I will help meet them."

The collection started in 1982 and includes complete US sets of games for 22 consoles ranging from the Sega Dreamcast to the Atari Jaguar.

Image Caption:Owner Michael Thomasson

There are near-complete collections of games for 14 other consoles and thousands of games for nearly 70 other gaming machines.

Mr Thomasson said: "I operated seven independent gaming stores during the nineties and have worked for another chain for the last decade.

"I also operated Good Deal Games online since 1998, having thousands of games cross my path.

"Whenever I purchased a game that did not directly come from the distributor I was able to look through all our inventory and pick out the nicest copy of a game, including grabbing the nicest box and manual."